If you're in danger right now or someone you love is, call 911. Otherwise, the lines below are free, confidential, and won't ask about your immigration status.
Crisis lines (24/7, all free)
| Service | Phone / text | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline | Call or text 988 | Active suicidal thoughts, worried about someone |
| Talk Suicide Canada | 1-833-456-4566 · text 45645 (4 pm – midnight ET) | Alternate to 988 |
| ConnexOntario | 1-866-531-2600 · text "CONNEX" to 247247 | Find local mental health, addiction, gambling services |
| Hope for Wellness Helpline | 1-855-242-3310 | Indigenous callers; Cree, Ojibway, Inuktitut on request |
| Kids Help Phone | 1-800-668-6868 · text CONNECT to 686868 | Ages 5–29; 100+ languages via interpreters |
| Naseeha Mental Health | 1-866-627-3342 | Muslim newcomers — culturally and spiritually grounded support |
| Trans Lifeline (Canada) | 1-877-330-6366 (Mon–Fri 1–9 pm ET) | Trans / non-binary callers, peer support |
| Health811 | Call or text 811 | "Should I go to ER?" — RN-staffed health advice |
Local services in Northern Ontario
CMHA Thunder Bay
- Office: (807) 345-5564 · toll-free 1-888-269-3100 · 200 Van Norman St (Mon–Fri 8:30–4:30)
- Crisis Response Service: (807) 346-8282 · toll-free 1-866-888-8988 (24/7)
- Mobile Crisis Team: 12 pm – 12 am daily within Thunder Bay city limits
- Free walk-in / talk-in counselling: 16+, no OHIP or referral needed, first-come-first-served
- thunderbay.cmha.ca
CMHA Sudbury / Manitoulin
- (705) 675-7252 · toll-free 1-866-285-2642
- 111 Elm St, Suite 100, Sudbury
- sm.cmha.ca
NorWest Community Health Centres (Thunder Bay)
- Free, confidential counselling for anxiety, depression, trauma, and situational issues
- Open to newcomers including those without OHIP — call to confirm eligibility
- norwestchc.org
Anishnawbe Mushkiki (Thunder Bay)
Indigenous-led Aboriginal Health Access Centre offering culturally-grounded mental health and addictions support. 807-623-0383 · mushkiki.com
Black, African & culturally-specific therapists (virtual)
Northern Ontario has limited in-person culturally-specific options. The good news: every therapist below offers secure video sessions — they work as well from Thunder Bay or Timmins as from downtown Toronto.
- Black Mental Health Canada — therapist directory + culturally-safe care
- Inclusive Therapists — filter for Black, African, South Asian, Latine, 2SLGBTQI+ therapists
- Psychology Today Canada — searchable by language spoken, identity, and insurance accepted
Settlement workers can refer you
If you don't know where to start, your local settlement agency can listen, suggest options, and connect you to culturally-appropriate care. They speak many languages and won't ask about your status.
See our settlement services guide.
Common newcomer pitfalls
- Waiting until things are "really bad." Mental health support is preventive, not just for crisis. The earlier you talk to someone, the easier it gets.
- Not knowing 988 exists. It's free, multilingual, and works from any phone.
- Paying for a therapist when a CHC would have served you free. NorWest CHC and Anishnawbe Mushkiki offer free counselling.
- Going to the ER for non-urgent mental health. Walk-in CMHA, 988, and 811 cover most non-emergency situations.
- Hiding it from your community. Talking helps — and there are therapists who share your background.
Local services across Northern Ontario
Verified entries from settlement.org and 211 Ontario directories. Confirm hours and intake before visiting.
Thunder Bay
- Canadian Mental Health Association — Thunder Bay Branch — 200 Van Norman Street, Thunder Bay. Office 807-345-5564. Crisis line 807-346-8282 · toll-free 1-866-888-8988 (24/7/365). Crisis response, community programs, safe beds.
- NorWest Community Health Centres — Thunder Bay — 525 Simpson Street, Thunder Bay. 807-622-8235 · toll-free 1-866-357-5454. Free, confidential primary care and mental health for people facing barriers to traditional care.
Greater Sudbury
- CMHA Sudbury/Manitoulin — 111 Elm Street, Suite 100, Sudbury. 705-675-7252 · toll-free 1-866-285-2642. Walk-in or phone intake; mental health, substance use, case management, advocacy. Extended hours Wednesdays to 6 PM.
- Compass (formerly Child and Family Centre) — 62 Frood Road, Sudbury (mindSPACE walk-in). 1-800-815-7126. Lead agency for child and youth mental health across Sudbury/Manitoulin districts.
- Health Sciences North — Mental Health & Addictions — 41 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury. 705-523-7100. Acute inpatient psychiatry, community mental health, addictions, crisis intervention. Regional hub for Sudbury, Manitoulin, East Algoma.
Sault Ste. Marie
- Sault Area Hospital — Crisis Services — 750 Great Northern Rd, Sault Ste. Marie. Crisis line 705-759-3398 · 24/7 line 1-800-721-0077. Mental health crisis response, mobile crisis team.
- CMHA Algoma — 386 Queen St E, Sault Ste. Marie. 705-759-0458. Central Access 705-759-5989 · toll-free 1-866-531-2600. Mental health support, case management, addictions.
- Algoma Family Services — 705-945-5050 · 24/7 crisis line 1-800-721-0077. Child and youth mental health (ages 0–18), addictions, family services across Algoma.
North Bay
- CMHA North Bay and District — 194 Main Street West, North Bay. 705-476-4088 · toll-free 1-844-476-4088. After-hours crisis through North Bay Regional Health Centre 1-800-352-1141 (24/7). 25+ specialized programs including peer support and addiction treatment.
- North Bay Regional Health Centre — Mental Health Services — 50 College Drive, North Bay. 705-474-8600. 24-hour crisis line 1-800-352-1141. Designated specialty mental health centre for Northeast Ontario.
- Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca — 391 Oak Street East, North Bay. 705-476-2293 · toll-free 1-800-668-8555 · 24/7 crisis 1-844-287-9072. Child and youth mental health, autism services, family support.
Timmins
- Timmins & District Hospital — 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line — 700 Ross Ave E, Timmins. 705-264-3003 · toll-free 1-888-340-3003. 24/7 crisis line and hospital mental health programs.
- CMHA Cochrane-Timiskaming (Second Avenue Site) — 330 Second Avenue, Suite 201, Timmins. 705-267-8100. Mental health case management, community support, housing support. Mon–Fri 8:30–4:30 (closed noon–1).
- Timmins Family Health Team — Suite 300, 123 Third Ave, Timmins. 705-267-1993. Primary care including mental health support through allied health team.
Sources & references: Local services cross-referenced with settlement.org (OCASI's Ontario newcomer directory) and 211 Ontario. Confirm current hours and intake before visiting.
Don't want to call alone?
A settlement worker can call with you.
They can listen, translate, and stay on the line while you connect to a counsellor or crisis service. Free, confidential, no immigration status check.
DON'T LIVE NEAR A SETTLEMENT OFFICE?
Call the regional org for your area.
Settlement workers will register you by phone or video and help you find local supports. There's no requirement to live in the same town as the office — these services are funded for all of Northern Ontario.
- NW Ontario — Thunder Bay, Kenora, Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Marathon Thunder Bay Multicultural Association
- Greater Sudbury, Manitoulin, Espanola SMFAA — Sudbury Multicultural & Folk Arts Association
- Algoma — Sault Ste. Marie Sault Community Career Centre
- Nipissing — North Bay, Parry Sound, Timiskaming NOMC — Northeastern Ontario Multicultural Centre
- Cochrane District — Timmins Timmins & District Multicultural Centre
- Hearst, Kapuskasing — French-language services SÉO — Settlement services (Northeast)
Last reviewed: April 2026. Wellness Together Canada was decommissioned April 2024 and is not active in 2026; use 988 / ConnexOntario / Health811 instead.